[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Pages 2946-2947]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      NOMINATION OF MICHAEL PUNKE

  Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I rise today to urge the immediate 
confirmation of Michael Punke to be the U.S. Ambassador to the World 
Trade Organization.
  The United States has been without an ambassador for more than 6 
months because one Republican Senator has been holding up his 
nomination for no good reason. This is another example of standing in 
the way of doing what is right for our country.
  Michael Punke is well qualified. He is ready to serve. He happens to 
be from Montana. Michael's qualifications are as follows: Michael 
received his undergraduate degree in international affairs from George 
Washington University. He then attended Cornell Law School where he 
earned his juris doctorate with a specialization in international legal 
affairs. He also served as editor in chief of the Cornell International 
Law Journal.
  For 14 years Michael served in government and private practice in 
Washington, DC. From 1991 to 1992 he acted as international trade 
counsel to Senator Max Baucus, then-chairman of the Finance Committee's 
International Trade Subcommittee.
  Michael has been fully vetted. He received strong bipartisan support 
in his Senate Finance Committee hearings, and the Finance Committee 
unanimously approved his appointment. Let me repeat that. Michael Punke 
passed out of the Finance Committee with the support of all the 
Senators on that committee. That means all the Democrats and all the 
Republicans supported his nomination, including the junior Senator from 
Kentucky, who continues to hold up his nomination. The reason Senator 
Bunning is giving for his hold? He wants Canada to repeal parts of the 
antismoking law that they passed in the Canadian Parliament. I don't 
think that holds water.

[[Page 2947]]

  This job is too important to remain open because one Senator has a 
flimsy policy beef with a foreign country. Common sense has to prevail.
  Expanding U.S. exports will help rebuild our economy by creating 
jobs. Michael Punke is an important part of that goal. Michael will be 
responsible for promoting and securing U.S. trade interests abroad to 
create jobs for America's farmers, workers, and businesses right here 
at home. Our trading partners use his absence as an excuse to stall 
progress on serious negotiations. Standing in the way is hurting 
America's businesses and workers who are affected by these very 
important negotiations.
  Michael could be working right now to create jobs for American 
farmers, workers, and businesses. But, instead, some issue about 
tobacco in another country is keeping us from moving forward. That is 
not right.
  That is why a broad coalition of America's farmers and businesses 
have been calling for quick approval of Michael Punke by the Senate. A 
coalition of 42 food and agriculture groups wrote Senator Reid and 
Senator McConnell last January to call for Michael's quick confirmation 
saying:

       U.S. food and agriculture exports are under assault in many 
     markets with trading partners erecting even more barriers in 
     recent months . . . The longer the delay in confirming Mr. 
     Punke, the more likely that the U.S. loses exports and jobs.

  So if we act today to confirm Michael Punke, the Senate will have 
done something right now to help create jobs in America. Holding up 
Michael Punke does just the opposite. For all these reasons--oh, and 
may I add this guy is one quality individual--I would request we 
confirm Michael Punke in the Senate, we do it as soon as possible, and 
confirm him to the position of U.S. ambassador to the World Trade 
Organization.

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